Third African Congress of Lay Fraternities is Being Held in South Africa
On June 13 – 18, the African Council of Lay Dominican Fraternities (ACLDF) held the 3rd Africa Congress, hosted at Mariannhill Retreat Center in Durban, South Africa. The Africa Congress, held every three years, is a gathering of representatives of the Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic from all provinces, vice-provinces and vicariates across the region of Africa.
In addition to the ACLDF Council members elected at the previous gathering in 2022 and delegates representing the Order’s entities in Ivory Coast, Kenya, Burundi, Cameroun and eolsewhere throughout the region, attendees included: fr. Sphiwe Mjuqu, OP and fr. Mark James, OP, Provincial Promoters of the Laity for South Africa; fr. Andama Gilbert, OP, Religious Assistant from Kenya; fr. Cristóbal Torres Iglesias, OP, General Promoter of the Dominican Laity; and his eminence, Bishop Neil Augustine Frank, OMI, Bishop of the Diocese of Mariannhill, in South Africa.
Delegates gathered to discuss the current state of Lay Dominican life in Africa, including formation and regional collaboration, to compare experiences, data and best practices, and to elect the new ACLDF Council for 2025 – 2028.
The newly elected Council members are:
- President: Mr. Nsah Frederick, OP
- Vice-President: Ms. Alphonsine Kouassimbengue, OP
- Secretary: Ms. Espérance Ndayihimbaze, OP
- Treasurer: Ms. Felicitas Peng, OP
- Officer for the Dominican Family: Ms. Elizabeth Nyembo, OP
- Officer for Justice & Peace: Ms. Milly Majola, OP
- Officer for Preaching: Mr. Edmund Khathi, OP
- Officer for Formation: Mr. Nico Van Der Byl, OP
A special highpoint of the 3rd Africa Congress were its beautiful liturgies, animated by South Africa’s rich Zulu liturgical musical heritage, thanks to the Dominican Sisters of Montebello and the a cappella singing of St. Rose of Lima Fraternity, from KwaZulu Natal. The 3rd Africa Congress left participants with a renewed commitment to regional collaboration toward the growth of Dominican life in Africa, in service to the Order’s mission throughout the world.
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